Question: In Genesis 14:9 it says, “The Egyptians-all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horseman and troops-pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped…”. In the next paragraph it goes on to act like they saw them coming and got away. Why does it say that they “overtook” them in verse 9?
Answer: We naturally tend to take the word “overtook” to mean that they “caught” them. But remember that words find their specific meaning in context. In light of the context of the events as described following v.9, “overtook” should be understood, probably even interpreted, as “they caught up to them.”